WE may now merge the details
of the several tables already given into the general death-rate, or, more
correctly, the death-rate of Leicester from all causes and at all ages. These
results are equally as significant as those of a more detailed character. From
1868 to 1872, when the percentage of vaccination reached high-water mark, the
average annual death-rate of Leicester was 27 per thousand of the population per
annum, or nearly five per thousand above the annual average death-rate of
England and Wales.

Had the death-rate of
Leicester continued in 1908-10 at the same alarming figure as in the high
vaccination period of 1868-72, the deaths each year would have reached an annual
average of about 6,400, instead of being only 3,026, and thus showing an annual
saving of nearly 3,400 lives.

Fortunately, owing to its
sanitary advancement, the death-rate of Leicester in 1908-10 was nearly two per
thousand below that of England and Wales, or a gain on the death-rate of the
whole country, as compared, with 1868-72, of exactly 6.4 per thousand. Had the
death-rate of Leicester even only remained in the same relative position to
England and Wales as in 1868-72, there would have been, in each of the three
years named, about 2,540 more deaths than actually occurred. In other words,
instead of an average annual death-rate of 3,026. there would have been no less
than 5,560 deaths in each of these years. On this basis an annual saving of
2,534 lives has resulted. Whether we take the annual saving at nearly 3,400
lives, or over 2,500, it is an achievement to be proud of, and proves the
enormous benefits Leicester has derived from its progressive sanitary policy and
work.

Being Table 24, Royal
Commission, Fourth Report, abbreviated by omitting the actual numbers, but
continued to 1910.

Table showing, for the
BOROUGH OF LEICESTER during the years 1838-1910, in quinquennial periods, the
average annual rate per 1,000 living of persons married, of births, and of
deaths; with the average annual registered vaccinations per 100,000 living.*

Periods

Rate per
1,000
Population.

Estimated Population
for the middle of the Period.

Average Annual
Registered Vaccinations per 100,000 Population.

Persons Married.

Births

Deaths

1838-42

20.58

38.96

28.09

49,951

not
known

1843-47

21.24

38.51

27.46

54,737

returns
incomplete

1848-52

22.10

37.61

26.51

59,788

2,398
(4 yrs)

1853-57

20.62

37.35

24.88

63,624

3,008

1858-62

20.30

37.15

24.48

67,456

2,434

1863-67

24.78

41.15

25.97

78,516

*3,175

1868-72

22.38

41.60

26.82

92,873

3,819

1873-77

22.22

42.69

24.49

105,913

3,401

1878-82

19.22

39.74

22.17

120,059

2,645

1883-87

17.28

35.15

19.88

136,147

1,059

1888-92

16.79

32.12

18.34

161,911

108

1893-97

16.67

31.91

17.31

190,690

65

1898-02

17.20

29.82

16.75

208,627

241

1903 07

16.03

25.70

13.78

228,165

612

1908-10
(3 years)

14.98

22.51

12.39

244,267

257

* For the actual number of
annual vaccinations and extra vaccinations for 1863-64, see Table 50.